UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
The International Struggle
against Torture &
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Manfred Nowak
Professor for International Human Rights Protection, University of Vienna
Director, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Vienna
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
Vienna, 17 March 2009
Vienna, 1 April 2009
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
OVERVIEW
1. Definition of Torture
2. Development of International Legal Instruments against Torture
3. Prohibition of Torture as an absolute and non-derogable Right
4. Challenge September 11 - A Paradigm Shift?
5. Challenging the Prohibition of Torture and CIDT by Narrowing the
Definition
6. The “Ticking Bomb Scenario”
7. Outsourcing of Torture
8. Non-Refoulement Principle & Diplomatic Assurances
9. Secret Places of Detention & CIA Rendition Programmes
10. “Tainted Fruits of the Poisonous Tree”-Theory
11. UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
12. Fact-Finding Missions
13. Lessons Learned
14. Questions & Answers
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
1. DEFINITION OF TORTURE (ART. 1 CAT)
a) Causing of severe physical and/or mental pain or suffering
b) State responsibility
c) Intention; applied to achieve a certain purpose
(confession, information, intimidation, discrimination…)
d) Powerlessness, defenselessness of the victim, which is
completely in the torturer’s power (especially during detention)
→ direct attack on the victim’s dignity and personal integrity
→ specific form of violence
→ examples:
„Palestinian Hanging”
Abu-Ghraib (prisoner at dog leash)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
1. PROHIBITION OF TORTURE AS AN ABSOLUTE AND
NON-DEROGABLE RIGHT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
a) Absolute vs. Relative Rights
e.g. freedom of expression, right to life, prohibition of torture and slavery;
b) Non-derogable vs. Other Rights
e.g. personal liberty, right to life (Art. 15 ECHR), prohibition of torture,
prohibition of retro-activity of penal laws;
c) Torture vs. Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CIDT)
“relativity” of CIDT (principle of proportionality)
d) Reasons for the special Protection of the
Prohibition of Torture as Ius Cogens
Middle Ages → gradual elimination from criminal law
National Socialism → absolute prohibition
Chile → special protection mechanisms (criminal law, prevention, victim
protection, fact finding)
Bosnia → international criminal tribunals, systematic torture as a crime
against humanity;
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
AGAINST TORTURE
After World War II: Absolute prohibition of torture and illtreatment in international human rights law
a) Article 5 UDHR 1948
b) Article 3 ECHR 1950
c) Article 7 CCPR 1966
d) Article 5 ACHR 1969
1970s:
Systematic practice of torture in many parts of the world, in particular
during the military dictatorships in Latin America.
Campaign against Torture by Amnesty International and other NGOs
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
AGAINST TORTURE (cont.)
→ Impunity
a) Declaration against Torture 1975
b) Convention against Torture (CAT) 1984
Article 4: Obligation to criminalize torture
Article 5-9: Territorial, personal and universal jurisdiction
c) Rome Statute of an International Criminal Court 1998
Systematic or widespread practice of torture as crime against
humanity
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
→ 2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS AGAINST
TORTURE (cont.)
 Rights of victims
a) Right to a remedy Art 13 CAT
investigation by competent authorities (not necessarily criminal justice)
“Police – police”
b) Right to reparation Art 14 CAT
rehabilitation
satisfaction
compensation
 Directed against States and individual perpetrators (universal civil jurisdiction)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
AGAINST TORTURE (cont.)
→ Prevention
a) Convention against Torture 1984
Article 3: non-refoulement
Article 10: training of law enforcement personnel
Article 11: modernization of interrogation techniques
Article 15: non-applicability of information extracted by torture
b) Preventive visits to places of detention
ICRC
Jean-Jacques Gautier
Draft Costa Rica Protocol 1980
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture 1987
OPCAT 2002
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
AGAINST TORTURE (cont.)
→ Strengthening of international monitoring
a) UN Committee against Torture monitoring States parties to CAT:
since 1987
State reporting procedure
Inter-State complaints procedure
Individual complaints procedure
Inquiry procedure
b) UN Special Rapporteur against Torture monitoring all States:
since 1985
Individual communications & Fact finding missions
Reporting and awareness raising
c) UN Sub-Committee on Prevention: since 2006
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
2. ADDED VALUE OF OPCAT (cont.)
a) Deterrent effect of unannounced visits to places of detention
b) Combination of UN Sub-Committee on Prevention
and National Preventive Mechanism
c) Making places of detention transparent
d) Cooperation between NPM and prison authorities
e) Reporting on visits
f) Standardisation of minimum conditions of humane detention
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
3. THE UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON TORTURE
• UN Special Procedure
– Serve in their individual capacity
– Independent, impartial Experts
• Tasks
–
–
–
–
Fact Finding Missions (see next slide)
Communications: Urgent Appeals & Letters of Allegations
Reports to UN General Assembly & Human Rights Council
Promotion of OPCAT and other preventive mechanisms
• Created by UN Commission on Human Rights (Res 1985/33)
• Appointed by Commission on Human Rights/Human Rights Council
• 3 years with one possible renewal
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
4. FACT-FINDING MISSIONS
• Invitation of the State
• Terms of Reference
– Freedom of movement
– Freedom of inquiry
• Access to all places of detention
• Contacts with all branches of government;
• Contacts with representatives of NGOs, other private
institutions and the media;
• Confidential and unsupervised contact
• Full access to all documentary material
– Assurance by the Government against reprisals
– Appropriate security arrangements
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
12. FACT-FINDING MISSIONS (cont.)
Arctic Ocean
Franz Josef Land
Svalbard (Nor.)
Novaya Zemlya
Jan Mayen (Nor.)
Victoria Island
Faroe Is. (Den.)Norway
Finland
Iceland
Russia
Island of Newfoundland
Aleutian Islands (USA)
Kuril Islands
Mongolia
North Pacific Ocean
Canary Islands (Sp.)
Jordan
The Bahamas
Mexico
Cuba
Guantanamo
Guatemala
El Salvador
Jordan
Algeria
Libya
Mauritania Mali
HaitiPuerto Rico (US) Dominica
Nicaragua
Barbados
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela Guyana
Suriname
French Guiana (Fr.)
Costa Rica
Panama
Senegal
The Gambia
Guinea-Bissau Guinea
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Togo
Colombia
Ecuador
Galapagos Islands (Ecuador)
Côte D’Ivoire
Nigeria
Nepal
Pakistan
Bang.
U. A. E.
Arabia
Oman
India
Feb. 05
Laos
Tanzania
Malaysia
Nepal
Singapore
Sep. 05
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Seychelles
Solomon
Nigeria
March 07
Paraguay
Mozambique
Zambia
Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Madagascar
Mauritius
Fiji
New Caledonia
Indian Ocean
Australia
Swaziland
South Africa
Lesotho
Uruguay
Chile
Argentina
Kiribati
Islands
Malawi
French Polynesia (Fr.)
Oct. 06
Marshall Islands
Guam (USA)
Angola
Bolivia
Paraguay
South Pacific Ocean
Nov. 05
Brunei
Maldives
Burundi
Congo
China
Philippines
Federated States of Micronesia
Sri Lanka
Kenya
Zaire
Vietnam
Cambodia
Andaman Islands (India)
Somalia
Uganda
Rwanda
Taiwan
Myanmar (Burma)
Thailand
Ethiopia
C. A. R.
Sao Tome & Principe
Georgia
Bhu.
Yemen
Cameroon
Ghana Togo
Eq. Guinea
North Pacific Ocean
China
Djibouti
Benin
Brazil
Peru
Eritrea
Sudan
Chad
Burkina Faso
Japan
Qatar
Niger
Gabon
April 07
Kuwait
Saudi
June 06
Jam.
Belize
Honduras
Afghanistan
Iran
Egypt
Western Sahara (Mor.)
Dominican Republic
N. Korea
S. Korea
Cyp. Leb. Syria
Iraq
Israel
Tunisia
Morocco
Mongolia
June 05
North Atlantic Ocean
USA
Feb. 2006
60°
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
Ireland
Belarus
Neth.
Poland
Bel. Germany
Ukraine
Czech.
Slovak.
Aus. Hung.
Kazakhstan
Moldova
France Switz. Slov.
Romania
Cro. Yugo.
Bos.
Uzbekistan
Georgia
Bulgaria
Italy
Mac.
Kyrgyzstan
Armenia Azerbaijan
Albania
Spain
Turkmenistan Tajikistan
Portugal
Greece
Turkey
Sweden
United Kingdom
Den.
Canada
U. S. A.
Wrangel Island
Baffin Island
U.S.A.
Hawaiian Islands
Oct. 06
Arctic
Ocean
New Siberian Islands
July. 08
Severnaya Zemlya
May
08 Ocean
Arctic
Greenland (Den.)
Banks Island
Russia
Moldova
Denmark
Ellesmere Island
South Atlantic Ocean
Sudan
Equatorial
Guinea
Oct. 07
Dec. 2007
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina)
Îles Crozet (France)
Nov South
08 Georgia (adm. by UK, claimed by Argentina)
Antarctica
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
New Zealand
Tasmania
Nov. 07
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
13. LESSONS LEARNED
• Team composition
– Human Rights Experts
– Forensic Expert
– Interpreters (local dialects?!)
– Gender Balance
• Importance of forensic medical expertise
– Forensic doctor as team member
– Own contribution during Government debriefing
– Usage of photos without disclosing victim’s
identity
• Importance of cooperating with the NGO sector
– Most important source of information
– Huge diversity
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
13. LESSONS LEARNED (cont.)
• Access to the facility
–
–
–
–
–
Lack of information or malevolent delay
Courtesy vs. Effectiveness
Letter of Authorization
Phone number of superior (e.g. Minister of Interior)
Information leaflet
• Schedule of Visits to Places of Detention
–
–
–
–
Prison Register and Documents
Disciplinary Cells
Protection of victims and witnesses
First Prisons, then Police Stations
• Use of technology in detention facilities
– Audio & video recording devices
– High resolution photo cameras
(name tags, blackboards…)
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
13. LESSONS LEARNED (cont.)
• Interviewing
–
–
–
–
–
–
Selection of place for interview
Conduct of interview
Compassionate interviewing vs. time constraints
Confidentiality v. reporting => Risks for detainees
Informed consent
Follow-up possible?
• Be prepared for “smoking guns”
– How to react when discovering ongoing torture?
– Ensure proper Follow-up
• Cultural/social diversity
–
–
–
–
“What’s the UN?” “UN Special Rapporteur?”
Same words - different meaning, e.g. “detainee”
Adapt language to local particularities
Different Understanding of Justice
=> how far to get involved into a case?
UN
UN Special
Special Rapporteur
Rapporteur on
on Torture
Torture
Question & Answers
Discussion
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, OHCHR/Geneva:
http://www.ohchr.org/english/issues/torture/rapporteur/
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, Vienna:
http://univie.ac.at/bim